Moth was flitting through the forest bumping into trees, “Ow, ow, ouch!” The moon is missing!” She cried frantically. Moth was in such a tizzy that she bumped right into bear.

“Ow, ow, ouch!” grumbled bear. You just smacked me in the eye!”

“I’m sorry,” said Moth, “But the moon is missing!”

“It is rather dark,” grumbled the bear. He wasn’t happy to be awakened.

“How will we ever find our way without the light of the moon?” worried Moth.

Bear scratched his huge head with his huge paw, “You are right! We must get help!” And off they went on their search for help, Moth flitting about, bumping from tree to tree and Bear lumbering along behind her.

It wasn’t long before they bumped into Coyote’s den.

“Maybe Coyote can help us!” suggested Moth as she flitted about in worry. Bear stuck his giant head in the giant hole and yelled, “Get up you lazy coyote!” Bear’s giant voice made the earth shake, which shook Coyote right out of his den.

Coyote bumped right into bear, yawned sleepily, and then scratched his behind. “What’s all the hullabaloo? Can’t a Coyote get some sleep?”

Moth flitted around Coyote’s head in circles till he was dizzy, “Moon is missing! How will we ever find our way without the light of the moon?”

Coyote burped, “Excuse my dinner.” He looked up in the sky, scratched his behind, and looked stumped. The moon wasn’t anywhere to be seen. “You’re right. Moon is missing. Well there’s nothing we can do about it in the dark. I’m going back to get my beauty sleep.” Coyote tried to sneak back into his den. Bear grabbed him by the scruff of his mangy neck, “Not so fast Coyote! We need your help!”

“Wait!” said a calm, low voice. Everyone looked up to the tree branch and saw Spotted Owl looking down at them. “Whoo new Moon would go missing? Maybe she went missing for a reason.”

Moth stood still, “Why?”

“Maybe she felt unseen,” suggested Bear.

“I forgot to sing to her,” admitted Coyote.

“Maybe if we appreciate her, she will shine her light upon us again!” said Moth and she got so excited she bumped right into Coyote’s snout. He sneezed her right off!

“Let’s go appreciate Moon,” suggested Bear.

“But where do we go to find her?” wondered Moth

“A hilltop,” suggested Coyote. “That’s where I go to serenade her.” So Moth, Bear, Coyote and Owl rushed to the nearest hilltop and began their Moon Appreciations.

“I love the way you light my way!” Moth danced her appreciation in circles.

“I like the way you guide me from season to season. I always know what to do because of you Moon,” said Bear.

“Dear, lovely Moon,” began Owl, “Because of you I can easily find my food.”

Everyone turned to Coyote. It was his turn to appreciate Moon. Coyote paced back and forth then started to sing. He sang all night long, and the next day. All the animals of the forest came to hear Coyote’s Gratitude song, and they all joined in. The sound was so beautiful and filled with so much love and joy that Moon woke up and just had to see who was singing. As she peeked down on earth, she appeared in the sky as a crescent. All the animals of the forest cheered!

“Moon is back!” Moth flitted excitedly around Bear and Coyote and Owl, but this time she didn’t bump into anyone because she could see!

From that day on all the animals of the forest took time during her waning to appreciate Moon, and she always received their gratitude in her open crescent arms.